Mayo Clinic in the News Weekly Highlights

By Karl W Oestreich

Mayo Clinic in the News is a weekly highlights summary of major media coverage. If you would like to be added to the weekly distribution list, send a note toLaura Wuotila with this subject line: SUBSCRIBE to Mayo Clinic in the News. Thank you.

…“Joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network was a natural fit for Guthrie, and we feel it makes sense for both our organizations,” said Joeseph Scopelliti, M.D., president and CEO of Guthrie. For its part, the Mayo Clinic network will have access to the expertise from Guthrie’s four hospitals and 290 physicians. “This relationship gives us the opportunity to build on our uniquely similar cultures,” said David Hayes, M.D., medical director of the Mayo network.

Context:Guthrie and Mayo Clinic announced this week that Guthrie has joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a national network of health care providers committed to better serving patients and their families through collaboration. Guthrie, the first health care organization based in Pennsylvania and New York to join the network, will be its 36th member. The formal agreement gives Guthrie access to the latest Mayo Clinic knowledge and promotes physician collaboration that complements local expertise. “Joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network was a natural fit for Guthrie, and we feel it makes sense for both our organizations,” says Joseph Scopelliti, M.D., president and CEO, of Guthrie. “We share a history with Mayo Clinic, as Guthrie was modeled after Mayo when Dr. Guthrie returned here from his residency training in Rochester, Minnesota, over 100 years ago.” More information about the announcement can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Months after News4Jax first aired the story about a local mother in need of a heart transplant, she received the news that her life depended on it. Laquisha Mathis, a mother of five has been living with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. In February she was told she had six months to live, unless she received a lifesaving heart transplant. At the time under her health care policy she was unable to receive the transplant but thanks to her determined doctors and the stories on News4Jax, she says she is now receiving a second chance at life. Last week Mathis received the news she’s been praying for, a heart transplant.

Reach:WJXT is an independent television station serving Florida’s First Coast that is licensed to Jacksonville.

Context: Thisyoung Jacksonville mother of five who was told she only had a few months to live back in February unless she received a heart transplant. The patient, who originally had several obstacles preventing her from being listed for a new heart, eventually was listed thanks to support from Mayo Clinic’s Florida transplant team and received her new heart on Nov. 4 after a more than two month wait. At Mayo Clinic, an integrated team of doctors trained in heart disease (cardiologists), heart and lung surgery (cardiac and thoracic surgeons), infectious disease management, and other specialties evaluates you and treats your condition. Mayo Clinic doctors work with doctors from many other areas to provide the most appropriate heart care.

Washington PostHere’s what happens to your body after you down an energy drink. It’s kind of scaryby Ariana Cha

There's been a lot of controversy about caffeine-spiked energy drinks in recent years following a spate of deaths and overdoses related to the beverages. In one of the most heartbreaking cases, 14-year-old Anais Fournier of Maryland died after consuming two 24-ounce cans of an energy drink. Food and Drug Administration has been studying such cases to try to determine if there's a causal link and, if so, what to do about it…In an effort to get more information about exactly happens in your body after you consume one of the drinks, Mayo Clinic researcher Anna Svatikova and her colleagues recruited 25 volunteers.

Context: New research shows that drinking one 16-ounce energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses significantly. This raises the concern that these response changes could increase the risk of cardiovascular events, according to a study presented this week at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2015. The findings also are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “In previous research, we found that energy drink consumption increased blood pressure in healthy young adults,” says Anna Svatikova, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiology fellow and the first author. “We now show that the increases in blood pressure are accompanied by increases in norepinephrine, a stress hormone chemical, and this could predispose an increased risk of cardiac events – even in healthy people.” More information about the study can be found on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Star TribuneEconomic development chief is the force driving Rochester's $6Brebirth by Matt McKinney

A pair of tennis shoes tucked into her bag, a water bottle at the ready, Lisa Clarke steps into a meeting in a busy morning full of them and drops awell-worn line. “It’s a good day to be in Rochester,” she says, flashing a broad smile at those in attendance. The extra shoes come in handy when she’s hurrying through the city’s skyways to her next thing. A packed schedule came with the job, as did a long title: executive director of the Destination Medical Center’s Economic Development Agency.

Reach: The Star Tribune Sunday circulation is 518,745 copies and weekday circulation is 300,277. The Star Tribune is the state’s largest newspaper and ranks 16th nationally in circulation.

Context: With Mayo Clinic at its heart, the Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative is the catalyst to position Rochester, Minnesota as the world’s premier destination for health and wellness; attracting people, investment opportunities, and jobs to America’s City for Health and supporting the economic growth of Minnesota, its bioscience sector, and beyond.

CBS News — After Paris attacks, how to talk to kids about terrorism by Mary Brophy Marcus — Violence, such as the terrorist attacks on Paris citizens Friday night, can leave lasting impressions on children, even if they only witness it through news reports and social media...However, very young children may not be aware of what's going on. "I think introducing it to them is not a great idea if they've not had any exposure or awareness to it," Dr. Daniel Hilliker, a pediatric psychologist with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, told CBS News.

NBC News — Study Finds More Evidence Coffee Can Be a Life-Saver…"This is probably the best study we are going to get because of the very large numbers, the inclusion of men and women, and the decades of follow-up," said cardiologist Dr. Sharonne Hayes of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, who wasn't involved in the study. "The main message is that people who enjoy drinking coffee should not worry about it being harmful for their health," Hayes told NBC News. "Coffee may actually be beneficial to their health."

NBC Today Show — Sense of Smell and Dementia — Seniors with an impaired sense of smell may be at risk for memory loss and dementia. Mayo Clinic researchers asked 1,500 elderly adults to identify 12 owed ores like pineapple, banana, gasoline, flowers and soap and people who struggled with that task were more likely to develop cognitive impairment over the next three years than those with higher scores and those with the lowest smell recognition were. At the greatest risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Esquire magazine — 5 Tests You Need to Get at Your Next Checkup by Sarah Wexler…Colonoscopy Why: Colon cancer. When to do it: Every ten years, starting when you're fifty. (Unless you have parent or sibling family history, in which case start at forty.) After an initial colonoscopy, you may be able to skip future ones and instead get a prescription for noninvasive Cologuard every three years. "It's an FDA-approved colon-cancer screening test where you collect your stool at home and it looks for DNA changes and blood," says Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Healthy Living Program at the Mayo Clinic.

Bloomberg — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Joins OptumLabs —OptumLabs, the collaborative health care research and innovation center co-founded by Optum and Mayo Clinic, announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has joined the collaborative as a research partner. Agencies under HHS's purview will now have the opportunity to develop and lead innovative health care research using OptumLabs' big data resources, which link de-identified medical claims and clinical data to provide holistic views of populations and patient care. Additional coverage: Morning Consult, HealthIT Analytics

Florida Times-Union —Florida, like nation, faces a shortage of physicians over next decade by Charlie Patton — A report released last spring, which predicted that in 2025 Florida would experience a shortage of about 7,000 physicians, should not have come as a surprise…“Burnout is a significant problem for physicians across the country,” said Gianrico Farrugia, chief executive officer of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. “… You need people who are very enthusiastic about their profession. But the amount of administrative work per patient has grown substantially. Most physicians go into medical school in a highly idealistic state. Physicians don’t get into the business to do paperwork.” Additional coverage: Mediacom Today

Florida Times-Union —Florida's medical residency funding grows but can't meet demand by Tia Mitchell — Michelle Lipton, an Ormond Beach native, decided to become an anesthesiologist because of its short but critical role in patient care. “You only get 5 to 10 minutes to help a patient feel comfortable when they are going into surgery,” she said. Lipton is in her second year of a four-year residency program at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville…. But doctors can’t practice independently until they complete residencies, known as graduate medical education or GME. “We’ve made a wonderful impact on creating more candidates for residency, but now we don’t have enough places to put the students who are graduating,” said Nell Robinson, chairwoman of Mayo Clinic’s division of education administration.

Reuters —S. heart groups to weigh new data for hypertension treatment guidelines by Bill Berkrot — U.S. heart organizations drafting new treatment guidelines for hypertension will consider new research showing that aggressively lowering blood pressure can ward off death and other cardiac problems, but top cardiologists advised caution in how the information is applied to wide practice…The Sprint findings suggested one death would be prevented for every 90 patients treated to a target of 120. "That's enough to change guidelines," but the potential side effects must be considered, said Dr. Raymond Gibbons, a former AHA president from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The ACC considers a systolic blood pressure level of 140 and a diastolic level of 90 to be its standard, based on government-issued guidelines released in 2003.

Washington Post —After new guidelines, U.S. sees sharp decline in prostate cancer screenings–and diagnoses by Lenny Bernstein…Major medical organizations remain split on guidelines, with some cancer and urology groups recommending a less absolute position on routine screening. Matt Tollefson, an associate professor of urology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said that he recommends “selective” PSA testing for men at high risk for the disease, including African Americans and men with a family history of the disease. Tollefson said that in past years, the pendulum clearly had swung too far toward routine screenings, which resulted in overtreatment. Now the question is how far back it should go, he said.

HealthDay —Failing Sense of Smell Might Be Alzheimer's Warning by Steven Reinberg — Losing your sense of smell may mark the start of memory problems and possibly Alzheimer's disease, a new study suggests. Researchers found that older adults who had the worst smell test scores were 2.2 times more likely to begin having mild memory problems. And if they already had these memory problems, they were more likely to progress to full-blown Alzheimer's disease, said lead researcher Rosebud Roberts, a professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Additional coverage: Daily Mail UK, Latinos Health, Medical News Today, Newsmax Health

Arizona Republic —'Liquid biopsies' provide up-to-date info fordoctors by Dr. Muhammed Murtaza, co-director of TGen’s Center for Noninvasive Diagnostics— Question: We’ve all heard of a tissue biopsy, in which a sample of a patient’s cancer is surgically removed for analysis. But what is a “liquid biopsy”? Answer: A team of international researchers, including those from the Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute, or TGen, and Mayo Clinic in Arizona, found that analyzing circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, from a patient’s blood could track how their cancer evolves and responds to treatment.

Bloomberg —The Female Libido Pill Is No Viagra by Anna Edney — More than half a million men got prescriptions for Viagra in its first month on the market in 1998. The number of prescriptions for Addyi, the women’s libido-boosting pill, in its first few weeks? 227. “I thought there was going to be this huge onslaught,” said Stephanie Faubion, director of the Women’s Health Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “There have been a few casual inquiries, but no prescriptions yet.” Additional coverage:Philadelphia Magazine,24New Canada, Money

Medscape— Deeper Grasp of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy by Alexander Castellino, P.h.D. — Two unrelated studies, both published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provide deeper insights into peripheral neuropathy — a disabling side effect experienced by patients on many chemotherapy regimens, particularly regimens containing oxaliplatin (Eloxatin, sanofi-aventis) and paclitaxel (multiple brands). One of the new studies "has identified several new features about oxaliplatin-induced acute and chronic neuropathy," coauthor Charles L. Loprinzi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, told Medscape Medical News. This study was conducted by investigators from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial N08CB (Alliance) and was published online August 17.

Monthly Prescribing Reference — How Previous Pill Use Affects Ovarian Cancer Outcomes by Diana Ernst — According to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers, patients who develop ovarian cancer appear to have better outcomes if they have previously taken oral contraceptives. Findings were published in the current issue of the journal BMC Cancer. In this study, Aminah Jatoi, MD, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic and co-author Ellen L. Goode, PhD, an epidemiologist at Mayo Clinic, examined the outcomes of ovarian cancer patients who were seen at Mayo Clinic from 2000 through 2013. Of the 1,398 patients who filled out a risk factor questionnaire about prior oral contraceptive, 827 responded that they had previously taken birth control pills.

Kansas City Star —Push for ‘firm 40’ workweek faces challenges across the United States by Diane Stafford…IF YOU DON’T HAVE A ‘FIRM 40’ JOB...The Mayo Clinic suggests ways to get the most out of your work and home time: Decide what is necessary, do that and let the rest go. Keep calendars and to-do lists for work and home so there aren’t last-minute worries.▪ Don’t take on tasks out of guilt or false obligation.

Rheumatology Network— How Do Your Patients Perceive Pain? — A significant portion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis don’t feel they have effective communication with their rheumatologists, according to a small qualitative study. Patient perceptions of pain and fatigue can differ from clinical markers. Knowing this can encourage rheumatologists to take patient responses into account when designing treatment plans. In a presentation given on Nov. 10 at the 2015 ACR/ARHP annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif., Mayo Clinic rheumatologist John M. Davis III, discussed how frequently patients report severe rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that exceed the objective markers their rheumatologists observe.

South China Morning Post — Olympic blue skies over China every day could save 900,000 lives in 15 years — American heart doctors told of potential for saving Chinese lives by reducing air pollution; findings on impacts of obesity and energy drinks also delivered —Drinking just one 475ml energy drink can increase blood pressure and stress hormone responses significantly, possibly leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, according to a new study by Mayo Clinic.

Slate.com— Hope for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome — The debate over this mysterious disease is suddenly shifting —Last month, a team of researchers released their latest study on chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychotherapy and a gradual increase in exercise, the researchers claimed, were lasting, effective treatments that could lead to recovery. The study was an update of the largest treatment trial in CFS history, now with longer-term data … Patients rapidly discovered serious scientific problems with the 2011 Lancet. Despite these errors, the study, known as the PACE trial, went on to inform recommendations from such influential bodies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mayo Clinic, and the British National Health Service.

Market Watch— DICOM Grid Adds Proven Leadership in Building High Growth SaaS Business, Announces $3M in Venture Financing to Bring Total Funding to $34M — The company plans to use the new funds to ramp up sales and marketing efforts and accelerate product development. DICOM Grid has gained major momentum over the past year, winning the prestigious KLAS award for best medical image exchange vendor and almost doubling its customer-base, which now boasts the Mayo Clinic, Barrow Neurological Institute and Rush University Medical Center as clients.

The Cheat Sheet— 4 workouts you can do during your lunch break —After missing a few weeks of working out, you'll notice a difference both physically and mentally. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise boosts energy....

KAAL— ABC 6 News Investigates: Generation Boom - Part 2 — In 2010, Olmsted County’s population of people 65 and older was just over 18,000. By 2020, that number is expected to jump by 50 percent. Is Olmsted County prepared for this growth … We are very fortunate and blessed with the Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center for taking care of our mature population," said Holmes.

KGAB (Cheyenne) —Oral Contraceptive’s A Possible Game Changer For Ovarian Cancer —It’s a pretty well known fact that oral contraceptive’s aren’t just for birth control. Many women take the oral drug for other symptoms, based on medical necessity … The research of this observation included 1,398 ovarian cancer patients, who were receiving treatment from 200 – 2013 at the Mayo Clinic. 571 of those patient’s stated that they had not used oral contraception.

Newsmax—Target's 'OCD' Sweater Gets Under the Skin of Critics — Target's "OCD Obsessive Christmas Disorder" sweater is not sitting well with some people who claim it trivializes mental illness, but the store said it plans to continue selling the item anyway … Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead a person to perform repetitive behaviors, according to the Mayo Clinic.

AZ Republic—Viewpoints: Ending the concussion epidemic — Professors: America has a concussion epidemic, but new research conducted in Arizona will revolutionize how we fight it … While the epidemic may not abate any time soon, our ability to identify and treat concussions is on the verge of major transformation. Science is racing to combat these problems. Significant research in this area is occurring here in the Valley at TGen, Mayo Clinic, Barrow Neurological Institute, Banner Health and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The Hill— Overnight Cybersecurity: GOP contenders threaten cyber war with China —GET IT TOGETHER. Medical devices in hospitals are incredibly vulnerable to cyber attacks, white hat hackers found when the Mayo Clinic invited them to do their worst to 40 common devices.

Chicago Tribune— Patrick Kennedy on 'A Common Struggle,' mental illness —There's a moment in the book in which you recall visiting then-Rep. Jesse Jackson, the former Chicago congressman, in the Mayo Clinic, where he was being treated for bipolar disorder.

International Business Times— ‘Nashville’ Season 4: Why Did Scarlett Cut Her Hair? — Clare Bowen Shares Personal Cancer Story — Many “Nashville” viewers were surprised when Scarlett (Clare Bowen) suddenly chopped off all of her hair … According to Mayo Clinic, it’s also known as Wilms’ tumor and it’s a rare kidney cancer found in young kids. When Bowen was diagnosed, she was given two weeks to live but was offered an experimental treatment that ultimately saved her life.

Voice of America—Fat Belly Increases Mortality Risk —As they get older, many people develop a “spare tire” or roll of fat around the middle. Now comes word that so-called central obesity could dramatically increase the risk of death.

Post-Bulletin— Will Rochester downtown biotech deal die? — An ambitious deal to bring a Mayo Clinic-linked Belgium biotech firm to downtown Rochester has stalled over money. Celyad, formerly known as Cardio3, signed agreements early this year with the city and state to create a prototype manufacturing facility that would create 33 jobs. But the projected cost to remodel the fifth floor of the Minnesota BioBusiness Center turned out to be higher than expected, and the project hasn't started as the company reviews its options.

Cannon Falls Beacon —EMTs, Reserves have joint training, Whether it's on the battlefield or in the operating room — Mayo Clinic's support of the U.S. military and its members runs deep and wide. In a collaborative approach, Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls hosted the first-ever training exercise for an Army Reserve surgical team from Ft. Snelling in St. Paul, Minn…"We are excited about this wonderful and generous liaison with Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls and the opportunity to train with our civilian EMT counterparts and military Reserve members who live in Rochester and the surrounding area as well as reservists from the Twin Cities," says Walt Franz, M.D., a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician and Colonel (Ret), Medical Corps, USAR.

Vancouver Sun —B.C. company’s blood test is cheaper, more accurate, less invasive by Randy Shore — A B.C.-based biotech company has devised a new test that can check for dozens of illnesses simultaneously using a single drop of blood. The test developed by SISCAPA Assay Technologies is cheaper and more accurate than traditional tests used to detect disease… The technology is already in use at two of the world’s top diagnostic facilities, the Mayo Clinic and ARUP Laboratories, which provides diagnostic services to hospitals across the United States…And many such tests are prone to interference, which is why the Mayo Clinic switched to last year. Pathologist Stefan Grebe at the Mayo Clinic said at the time traditional tests were often ineffective, giving a false negative result in some patients where cancer could be present or recurring.

Almanac TPT —Working Dog Series — Mary Lahammer starts a new series of reports exploring the innovative work dogs are doing. Mayo Clinic’s Caring Canines program is featured in the series.

Houston Chronicle —Injecting hope into cancer fight by Todd Ackerman… After years of U.S. research established the therapy was safe, the FDA became sold. Late last month, it approved the first U.S. viral immunotherapy, a herpes-based biologic to treat melanoma. The benefits seem modest - in its last clinical trial, it shrank tumors in patients with advanced disease, though the survival figures stopped short of statistical significance - but researchers called it "a huge milestone." "This is going to float all boats," said Dr. Stephen Russell, a professor of molecular medicine and viral immunotherapy researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. "It's a signal to pharmaceutical companies that such drugs can be approved."

International Business Times —Belly Fat Is Hazardous, Even More Than Obesity by Guneet Bhatia — People with belly fat have greater mortality risk than those who are obese, claims a new study conducted by Mayo clinic researchers… During the study, Mayo Clinic's Dr. Francisco Lopez-Jimenez and his team looked at the data for people with apple-shaped and pear-shaped body. The data were derived from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Additional coverage: Albany Daily Star

Entrepreneur —Add Self-Care and Positivity to Your To-Do List Every Day by Jack Womack… James Levine of the Mayo Clinic states: “Excessive sitting is associated with 34 chronic diseases, and conditions including obesity, diabetes, cancer, depression and back pain.” Because of that, I ask people to add one or two self-care line items to their at-my-best-when-inventory. Additional coverage: FOX News

Today.com —Serving up some serious portion control by Caitlin Kiernan — Size matters, especially when it comes to how much food we eat. Problem is, our idea of "normal" portions are skewed. "Years ago, when you would go to McDonald's the value meal was a cheeseburger. Now it's a double cheeseburger," says Felicia Hackett, R.D. at weight-loss center Hilton Head Health. "It's become normal for us to eat those larger sizes." The United States is the most obese country in the world, not only because of what we eat, but how much of it we are eating. "When I go over portions with my clients many are often shocked by the difference in how much they have been eating verses how much they should be eating," says nutritionist Cathy Deimeke, R.D. at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

ESSENCE magazine —Be Somebody to Lean On: How to Keep Your Sister Circle Strong by La Shieka Hunter — How many of us have them? Our confidantes are often the people who motivate us, inspire us and give us pearls of wisdom when we’re in need…According to the Mayo Clinic, not only does having a strong social support network reduce stress and boost happiness, but it can also increase your sense of belonging and improve your self-confidence.

Houghton Star —From Houghton to Mayo Clinic by Anthony Burdo—Tse Explores the Boundary of Biology and Chemistry —“Reaching out into the unknown is exciting; that’s a very human thing wanting to have an experience that no one’s had before.” The scientific ethos of cooperation drew senior David Tse to explore biochemical research, both at Houghton and at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “Sometimes people think of scientists as working in a quiet basement away from the rest of the world. But science is really a collaborative effort,” Tse expressed, “I appreciate being around a lot of different scientists and learning about what they do.”

Signals Blog Canada —Right Turn: Stem cells in space by Stacey Johnson…Earlier this summer, adult stem cells, provided by the Mayo Clinic, rocketed into space in a protype RED-4U capsule designed by Terminal Velocity Aerospace (TVA) as part of a test before scientists study how stem cells grow in space on the International Space Station. To learn more about this from Dr. Abba Zubair, medical and scientific director of the Cell Therapy Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic (Florida campus), please click here.

Endocrinology Advisor —Fewer Adults Achieving Ideal Cardiovascular Health by John Schieszer…AHA spokesperson Gerald Fletcher MD, who is a professor of medicine and cardiovascular disease at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida, said this study points out that the American people are not healthy overall, and much greater efforts are needed. He noted that the study findings are not surprising and significant changes are required to change how Americans eat and exercise, adding that these numbers are significant and show a dangerous trend that needs to be reversed.

Mankato Times —Bobbie Gostout named vice president, Mayo Clinic, The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees has named Bobbie Gostout, M.D., vice president, Mayo Clinic. The announcement was made today at the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees quarterly meeting. Dr. Gostout will be the physician leader for Mayo’s community practice in the Midwest, including Mayo Clinic Health System in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin and Mayo Clinic’s Minnesota-based community care locations.

Post-Bulletin —Al Depman: We need more imagination to protect against cyberattacks…Are we prepared locally, especially the information-rich Mayo Clinic? On the Advisory Board Co. Web briefing, former Mayo Clinic Chief Information Security Officer Jim Nelms, who resigned in September, said defending against data breaches is extremely difficult, noting convincing hospital staff of the need is key. When he implemented a system, he said, "a lot of the response was, 'We live in a cornfield in the middle of Minnesota. Who wants to hurt us?' "

Star Tribune —Mayo Clinic News Network: Pets can provide multiple health benefits —Like many animals, humans live in packs in which we make connections with the other members. But those packs don’t have to be made up of just fellow humans. Pets can be a vital part of them. “Research shows that our desire to connect with our pets can be a valuable asset for those struggling with physical and emotional pain; mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety; and environmental factors, such as loneliness,” said Jennifer Wickham, a Mayo Clinic Health System counselor.

Modern Healthcare —Health IT experts working to tackle patient matching problem by Joseph Conn — Two national health information exchange organizations are soliciting input on ideas for improving how providers and others healthcare organizations match patients to their electronic medical records. And no, they're not recommending a national patient identifier. That controversial approach to patient matching was side-stepped when developing the group's 55-page white paper, “A Framework for Cross-Organizational Patient Identity Management.”…The Care Connectivity Consortium is a collaboration of the Mayo Clinic, Geisinger Health System, Group Health Cooperative, Intermountain Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente and OCHIN, the Portland, Ore.-based, not-for-profit health information exchange.

Arizona Big Media —TGen leads Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team — The Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) will lead an international Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) Dream Team of top cancer researchers in a $12 million effort to double the survival of patients with pancreatic cancer, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff — TGen Physician-in-Chief and Distinguished Professor, Chief Scientific Officer at HonorHealth Research Institute, and Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic — will lead the Dream Team, which includes nearly two dozen researchers in the U.S. and United Kingdom. “Our overarching aim is to develop therapies that greatly improve a person’s survival,” Dr. Von Hoff said.

Creightonian —Campus fitness may improve physical, mental health…The Mayo Clinic recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity. It also suggests doing strength training at least twice per week. The Mayo Clinic also suggests at least 30 minutes per day of physical activity.

Post-Bulletin —Mayo Clinic taps Nobel Laureate for inaugural lecture on global health by Brett Boese — When more than 30 people died Oct. 3 during a U.S. airstrike that hit a Doctors Without Borders humanitarian hospital in Afghanistan, Dr. James Orbinski suffered disturbing flashbacks. Orbinski was the International President of Doctors Without Borders, often called MSF, when it won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. Five years earlier, he had been working at a MSF hospital in war-torn Rwanda while it was "shelled many times by belligerents in the genocide."… Orbinski is the featured speaker at Mayo Clinic's inaugural Rewoldt Nobel Laureate Lecture, which focuses on the global health community.

Post-Bulletin —Amy Klobuchar: Cutting-edge medical research deserves our support — Recently, I invited the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell to Minnesota to visit a few of our world-class medical facilities to see firsthand the ways technological advances are saving lives. At the Mayo Clinic Biobank in Rochester, we saw cutting-edge research underway on individualized, or precision, medicine… Precision medicine was critical for Andrew from Texas, who became sick in the fourth grade. Doctors were not able to pinpoint the exact cause, and Andrew struggled for 16 years with countless new medications and diagnoses before visiting the Mayo Clinic. There, genetic testing revealed Andrew's body doesn't break down medications normally, making it difficult for him to tolerate treatments.

Healthcare Design — Using Service Design To Understand, Improve Patient Experience by Jennifer Silvis — What’s service design and how can it improve the patient experience? That’s what Allison Matthews, a senior service designer at the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation was on hand to explain to attendees of the Healthcare Design Expo & Conference on Monday. Matthews, in her session “Developing a Cohesive Patient Experience Infrastructure at Complex Healthcare Organizations: A Design Process,” first offered a little background.

KIMT —Marrow donors needed by DeeDee Stiepan — Registering to become a living donor is a selfless act, especially when you don’t even know the recipient…“I had a patient whose father was African-American and mother was Taiwanese and we couldn’t find her a match at all,” explains Mrinal Patnaik, M.D. a Hematologist at Mayo Clinic. “I would urge people of ethnic minorities, Native Americans, African-Americans, immigrants of this country to really whole heartedly sign up.”

Health magazine —How Much Weight Should You Really Gain During Pregnancy? by Amanda MacMillan — Kim Kardashian-West revealed on Twitter last week that she’s put on 52 pounds during her pregnancy — and still has 6 weeks to go until her due date. As with most things Kardashian, the Internet responded swiftly, with many calling her admission “refreshingly honest,” and others deeming her weight gain “dangerous.” The truth is that every woman and every pregnancy is different, says Margaret Dow, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics-gynecology at the Mayo Clinic—only a woman and her own doctor know for certain whether her weight gain falls within a safe range.

KIMT — Union workers are hosting an informational picket line to negotiate contracts — Maintenance workers at Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea are held an informational picket outside of the hospital today. This is being held to talk about the proposals by the hospital during their contract negotiations. They are hoping to get their benefits secured in writing. As of now, the hospital is giving these union workers benefits, but they are not mentioned in the contracts. That is exactly what these union workers are looking for. “We are here to spread the word about our negotiating with Mayo Clinic,” said Kevin Dressen, Employee.

Post-Bulletin — Health summit to discuss 'elephant in the room' by Brett Boese…Seasons Hospice, Croix Hospice,Heartland Hospice and Mayo Clinic Hospice have spent the last six weeks coordinating plans for a free one-day conference to be held at Bethel Lutheran Church. It's the first time the four groups, who are generally competitors, have worked together to organize such a summit…Local providers tout the options and flexibility of hospice care, noting that health care professionals will provide service "wherever patients call home" and includes a variety of tasks, including special options for veterans. "Sometimes vets carry heavy things with them and they're only willing to share with other vets," said Amy Stelpflug of Mayo Clinic Hospice.

Kansas City Star —Gary Pinkel explains retirement decision during emotional news conference…Pinkel announced Friday that he was diagnosed in May with follicular lymphoma and would resign at year’s end or when a replacement is hired. Pinkel said later Monday that he would coach Missouri in a bowl game, however, even if it was scheduled for after Dec. 31… After his initial diagnosis in Columbia, Pinkel received all of his treatments at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He didn’t even tell his assistant coaches about it, fearing if the revelation went public it would adversely impact recruiting efforts. Additional coverage: Louis Post-Dispatch

CPP-Luxury —Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Mayo Clinic from the United States —Reflecting a joint commitment to wellness and a holistic lifestyle, the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Programme at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum will combine the research-based medical expertise of Mayo Clinic with Mandarin Oriental’s signature treatments and therapies, offered in its award-winning, expansive Spa. This collaboration is the first of its kind for the clinic. Additional coverage:Josour Magazine, 4-Traders,

Eau Claire Leader-Telegram —Opinion: Downtown vision unfolds before our eyes…And a bit further west across the Chippewa River, let’s not forget the decision by leaders of Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire to expand and renovate their hospital and clinic at its long-time location to the tune of well over $100 million rather than flock to the outskirts of town.

KIMT —Taking a step back in time by Adam Sallet — 100 years is a very long time and a local college is hoping they can get you to step back in time with never before seen photos and artifacts. Rochester Community and Technical College was founded in 1915 by Dr. Charles Mayo, one of the famous Mayo brothers that found Mayo Clinic.

Brandon Sun Canada —UVic develops less-bloody blood test that is already in use at Mayo Clinic —Forget the long, sharp needles and vials of blood taken to check for cancers, diabetes and heart problems — researchers at the University of Victoria have developed a new test requiring only a single drop. Retired University of Victoria biochemist Terry Pearson said in an interview that his researchers have developed a less invasive, cheaper and more personalized method of blood testing that relies on a pin prick and a single drop of blood. The blood test, not yet available in Canada, is already being used at the Mayo Clinic in the United States to test for thyroid cancer, he said.

Jakarta Post —Insight: Health care and philanthropy: Mayo Clinic as I see it by Jusuf Wanandi…The opportunity to go to the US offered itself when Vice President Jusuf Kalla invited me to join his delegation to attend the UN General Assembly in September. In between two programs, I had the chance to go to the Mayo Clinic for a checkup on my prostate and another on my heart. According to Dr. Matthew Gettman of the clinic, my prostate’s condition was back to normal as my PSA was 2.7. I was so relieved….The Mayo Clinic is the best institution we should learn from, especially on coordination, teamwork and the inter-disciplinary approach to solving problems.

Scientific American —New Nerve Drugs May Finally Prevent Migraine Headaches by David Noonan …Now a new chapter in the long and often curious history of migraine is being written. Neurologists believe they have identified a hypersensitive nerve system that triggers the pain and are in the final stages of testing medicines that soothe its overly active cells. These are the first ever drugs specifically designed to prevent the crippling headaches before they start, and they could be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration next year…“It completely changes the paradigm of how we treat migraine,” says David Dodick, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona and president of the International Headache Society. Whereas there are migraine-specific drugs that do a good job stopping attacks after they start, the holy grail for both patients and doctors has been prevention.

Politico —Busy health IT day on the hill by David Pittman…WELCOME TO THE PARTY, GUYS: The newest ONC advisory committee will launch this morning -- the Certified Technology Comparison Task Force. Co-chaired by Cris Ross of the Mayo Clinic and Anita Somplasky of Quality Insights, the group's job is to recommend ways of making a tool to compare certified EHRs, according to slides posted in advance of the meeting.

Next Avenue —What to Consider When Looking at Alternative Medicine by Rashelle Brown…I also spoke with Dr. Jennifer Johnson, an osteopathic physician practicing family medicine at the Mayo Clinic’s Northridge Clinic in Mankato, Minn. She told me that the amount of time a DO spends with a patient is governed by the reason for the patient’s visit and could range from a few minutes for something like a sore throat to an hour for a more serious condition. Johnson stressed that osteopathic physicians “look for the underlying cause of a condition,” and that “by considering the musculoskeletal system’s role, the healing process can often be sped up.”

Lexington Herald Leader Ky. — Leading Alzheimer’s expert to speak at UK by Anthony Pendleton — The physician who diagnosed former President Ronald Reagan with Alzheimer’s disease and treated country musician Glen Campbell for Alzheimer’s will speak at the University of Kentucky in hopes of raising awareness about the disease. Dr. Ron Petersen is the keynote speaker at the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging for the fifth annual Markesbery Symposium on Aging and Dementia. Petersen will give a lecture on Nov. 21 on how soon Alzheimer’s disease can be diagnosed…Petersen, 69, is the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage:UKnow University of Kentucky News

Globe and Mail —Victoria researchers develop blood test that only needs a single drop by Dirk Meissner… Retired University of Victoria biochemist Terry Pearson said in an interview that his researchers have developed a less invasive, cheaper and more personalized method of blood testing that relies on a pin prick and a single drop of blood. The blood test, not yet available in Canada, is already being used at the Mayo Clinic in the United States to test for thyroid cancer, he said. Additional coverage:Global News, Edmonton Sun

Becker’s Hospital Review —Mayo Clinic Q3 operating margin falls to 4.8% as labor costs grow by Ayla Ellison — Mayo Clinic saw its operating margin fall to 4.8 percent in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, down from 8.5 percent in the same period a year ago, as the Rochester, Minn.-based health giant's expenses outpaced its revenue growth.

Albert Lea Tribune — Protesters carry signs, oppose union contract language by Sam Wilmes — Dozens of Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea maintenance workers and members of the community picketed outside the hospital Monday afternoon to highlight their concerns with Mayo Clinic’s proposed union contract…Kevin Dressen, chief engineer at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, is worried that the proposed contract would have a negative effect on the community…Tami Yokiel, public affairs manager at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin, said the group is being offered the same benefits package virtually all other Allied Health employees receive and the change is better as a whole than the benefits the employees currently receive. Additional coverage:KIMT, Post-Bulletin

Mankato Free-Press —Local hospitals recognized for excellence in rural health care by Jessica Bies — Several local hospitals are being recognized for excellence in rural health care… quality of, health care for America's 61 million citizens. Hospitals recognized for helping achieve its mission (as well the categories they're being recognized in) include: Mayo Clinic Health System in St. James (quality and patient satisfaction), New Ulm Medical Center (quality, outcomes and patient satisfaction), River's Edge Hospital in St. Peter (outcomes and patient satisfaction), Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital (quality, outcomes and patient satisfaction), United Hospital District in Blue Earth (outcomes), Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague (patient satisfaction) and Mayo Clinic Health System in Waseca (financial stability).

Washington Post —Schools are trying to curb obesity. Why are their sports leagues promoting fast food? by Eric Goldwein…The dependence on unhealthy foods can have short- and long-term consequences. Children with poor dietary habits are at greater risk of suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments, according to Brian Lynch, who specializes in pediatric obesity at the Mayo Clinic. “If we don’t make the public health choices to improve health in our children — and adults for that matter — then we’re going to pay the price down the road,” Lynch said. “And we already are paying that price.”

Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal —Rochester approves millions for Destination Medical Center, but it wants action by Mark Reilly — Rochester, Minn., officials on Tuesday approved funding the Mayo Clinic-backed Destination Medical Center project, even while calling for more results from planners of the multibillion-dollar project. Finance & Commerce reports on the funding decision that contributes to the $500 million in public money projected to back the DMC plan, which envisions a reshaped downtown Rochester supporting a greatly expanded Mayo Clinic.

Post-Bulletin —Exhibit shows 'hand-in-hand' growth of RCTC and its city by Matthew Stolle — Everybody knows that Mayo Clinic founder Dr. Charles Mayo was the key figure in starting what would become Rochester Community and Technical College. The next 100 years would just fly by. To grasp how RCTC went from a humble downtown junior college to a sprawling 518-acre campus, RCTC is hosting a centennial art exhibition, "A Proud Past," in the RCTC Art Gallery, College Center Room 200. The exhibit began this week and will run through Dec. 12.

Star Tribune —Rosenblum: Minnesota pediatrician a hero for kids' dental health — Minnesotan Dr. Amos Deinard was honored early this month with a national lifetime achievement award for public health dentistry. Impressive, certainly — especially since Deinard isn’t a dentist. He’s a pediatrician, and the first to be honored by the American Public Health Association. The 80-year-old Deinard, who’s known as “The Fluoride Guy,” was singled out for his tireless efforts to help low-income children and teens…Q: But more clinics are doing fluoride varnishing, right?... A: That’s right. More than 20 HealthPartners clinics have offered fluoride varnishing for six or seven years. At Fairview Health Services, all 38 clinics offer it. Allina Hospitals and Clinics started offering it about a year ago. HealthEast is in the process of jumping in and I’m still working on the Mayo Clinic.

KTTC —Humanitarian: Fear of ISIS should not undermine responsibility to help others by Chris Yu — A call to action -- despite the ongoing threats from ISIS. That was the message from a renowned humanitarian Wednesday in downtown Rochester. Dr. James Orbinski was the president of Doctors Without Borders when the group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. He said terrorists should not deter the U.S. from helping other countries.

KAAL —New Director Chosen for MN Children's Museum Of Rochester — A big announcement from Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester. Prominent Rochester figure, Heidi Mestad, has been chosen as the Museum's newest Director. Mestad is a Rochester native, and joins the Museum from Mayo Clinic, where she was a manager for the Destination Medical Center Initiative. Mestad was instrumental in laying the foundation for the legislative approval and the development of the DMC strategic plan. She facilitated more than 200 community engagement sessions, and also was a key driver in redesigning the patient experience strategy for DMC and Mayo Clinic. Additional coverage: KTTC

Muscatine Journal —Students inspired by a man's ability to defy the odds by Jessica Fletcher-Frye — Motivational speaker and author Chris Norton visited Louisa-Muscatine High School Wednesday to talk with the students about the importance of moving forward after a tragedy and never letting circumstances define you…Norton was taken to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he underwent surgery to fuse three of his vertebrae together. After the surgery, doctors told Norton he had a three percent chance of regaining movement or feeling from the neck down.

Florida Times-Union — Health Notes: Mayo gets grant to study role of vascular disease in Alzheimer's, other dementias by Charlie Patton — Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville have been awarded a $5.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify vascular risk factors in aging and dementia, and translate that knowledge into studying potential targets for treatment…Guojun Bu, a molecular neuroscientist, and Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, a neurologist and neurogeneticist, are the principal investigators for the study.

Red Wing Republican-Eagle —Mayo announces new VP by Michael Brun — Dr. Bobbie Gostout was named Mayo Clinic's new vice president Friday at a quarterly meeting of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. Gostout will be the physician leader for Mayo's community practice in the Midwest, including Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, as well as Minnesota-based community care locations, the clinic announced. "I am honored to be selected by the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees for the role of vice president. This is an exciting and dynamic time to be part of Mayo's community practices in the Midwest whether within Mayo Clinic Health System or Mayo Clinic's community care locations," Gostout said in a statement.

Red Wing Republican-Eagle —Summit: No easy fix for health insurance woes by Michael Brun — Insurers joined the discussion at a health policy summit Tuesday in the St. James Hotel, a follow-up to a Cannon Falls summit last month organized by state Sen. Matt Schmit on the topic of health insurance prices in southeastern Minnesota. The six-person panel, made up of two insurance industry representatives as well as members of state agencies and Mayo Clinic Health System, fielded pressing questions from area residents who said their premiums have skyrocketed - especially for individual plans… "In southeastern Minnesota we have the positive impact and we also have the negative impact," said Dr. Tom Witt, CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System in Cannon Falls, Lake City and Red Wing, about the price differential.

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